UK Business News

Sky may put top channels on Freeview

The broadcaster will be allowed to sell its pay-TV channels into Freeview homes under plans set to win approval from Ofcom

Babcock poised to seal takeover

The deal between the engineering groups will create a FTSE 100 company with interests in nuclear energy and defence contracting

• VT Group opens books to predator Babcock

• Investor opposed to Babcock bid is selling VT shares

Monsoon awash with profits

The fashion retailer has emerged as one of the surprise winners of the recession, delivering an eight-fold rise in profits

• ‘Street traders’ to net millions

• Economy fears intensify on dire retail figures

New Look revives float plan

The retailer is preparing to resurrect its £1.7bn stock market flotation just one month after it was controversially pulled

World Business News

Dubai wants eight years to pay debts

The crisis-hit investment empire will promise its lenders it will be able to pay back all the money if it can get an extension

French gatecrash train bid

The country's state railway group is planning to derail an attempted £1.4bn takeover bid for Arriva, the British transport company

• Arriva pushes Deutsche Bahn to increase offer

• Arriva will hold on to CrossCountry franchise

Lord Mandelson hits at US ‘protectionism’

The business secretary said a recent decision to rejig the bidding for air-to-air refuelling tankers had increased his concerns

• Mandelson condemns Obama 'Buy American' call

• EU warns Obama over protectionist measures

Court clue on E-Clear insolvency

The mystery over trading the Canadian card payments group has deepened after the disclosure of High Court documents

ANALYSIS

Rebuilding work gives Daniels space

Lloyds is in the middle of not only the integration of HBOS but also the fight back to profitability. It needs stability at the top

‘Do no harm’ should be Darling’s motto

Politics is not grown up enough for the Chancellor to set out in detail the spending cuts needed in the review that follows the election

It’s business as usual for Lehman chiefs

Seven days isn’t really enough to absorb Anton Valukas's report but it’s fair to say there’s a lot of blame to go around

Law  

Adoption agency may now discriminate legally

The High Court has reversed a ruling that the Catholic Care agency could not be made to consider gay couples as adopters

Presenter's naked plea fails to convince taxman

Sian Williams loses long-running battle with HMRC over her claim for an allowance for 'professional clothing and hairdo'

Expats lose appeal over index-linked pensions

Strasbourg turns down appeal from British citizens living abroad who claimed frozen pensions violated their human rights

Money  

OFT criticises used-car dealers for misleading consumers

A fifth of consumers have a problem with their second-hand car after buying it from a dealer

Taxman scrutinises property amateurs

Holiday homeowners, buy-to-let landlords and house sellers under the spotlight as Revenue trawls Land Registry

Barclaycard starts rewards scheme for eight million customers

Credit card company offers chance to earn hard cash rather than points or airmiles

• Ten Best Loyalty Cards

• Barclaycard to launch rewards scheme

business travel  

Bmi launches Heathrow-Berlin service

New route will tie the airline's network into that of its parent company Lufthansa

Emirates opens Birmingham lounge

Midlands hub gets first dedicated long-haul space for executives

Profile: Philanthropist Matt Stockdale

Former Homepride boss talks about giving away money, hotel horror stories and eating poached frogs